4.05.2006
Massachusetts Passes Ambitious Health Care Plan (Reuters.com)
Wed Apr 5, 2006 12:25 AM ET
By Belinda Yu
BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts lawmakers overwhelmingly approved an ambitious health-care bill on Tuesday that would make it the first U.S. state to require nearly all residents to be insured or face penalties.
The bill, which comes as traditional employer-based coverage is shrinking nationwide, will provide health care to about 95 percent of the state's half million uninsured residents by 2009, state officials said.
The Massachusetts policy holds both businesses and employees responsible for health care coverage. Businesses with more than 10 employees that do not provide coverage for all staff must pay a $295 fee annually per uninsured worker.
Under the legislation, which is expected to be approved by Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, insurance agencies would expand health care coverage by offering state-subsidized, low-cost insurance plans with scaled-back benefits.
Romney, a Republican who may run for president in 2008, has indicated he would sign the bill into law.
"Some 500,000 citizens who go without insurance today will be taken care of," House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, a Democrat, told the state Legislature to loud applause.
The plan comes at a time when about 46 million Americans are uninsured and there is growing concern across the country over the diminishing number of people who can afford the soaring cost of insurance premiums.
(More ... Politics News Article | Reuters.com) ¶ 22:04
By Belinda Yu
BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts lawmakers overwhelmingly approved an ambitious health-care bill on Tuesday that would make it the first U.S. state to require nearly all residents to be insured or face penalties.
The bill, which comes as traditional employer-based coverage is shrinking nationwide, will provide health care to about 95 percent of the state's half million uninsured residents by 2009, state officials said.
The Massachusetts policy holds both businesses and employees responsible for health care coverage. Businesses with more than 10 employees that do not provide coverage for all staff must pay a $295 fee annually per uninsured worker.
Under the legislation, which is expected to be approved by Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, insurance agencies would expand health care coverage by offering state-subsidized, low-cost insurance plans with scaled-back benefits.
Romney, a Republican who may run for president in 2008, has indicated he would sign the bill into law.
"Some 500,000 citizens who go without insurance today will be taken care of," House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, a Democrat, told the state Legislature to loud applause.
The plan comes at a time when about 46 million Americans are uninsured and there is growing concern across the country over the diminishing number of people who can afford the soaring cost of insurance premiums.
(More ... Politics News Article | Reuters.com) ¶ 22:04
